6 signs your cow is in heat

Every missed heat means 21 days lost without a pregnancy, plus lost milk and money. Catching heat on time is one of the most valuable habits on a dairy or beef farm.

Six signs a cow is in heat

1. She stands still when another cow mounts her. This is the surest sign.
2. She mounts other cows.
3. Clear, stringy mucus from the vulva.
4. Swollen, red vulva.
5. Restless, bellowing, and unable to settle.
6. Milk or feed intake drops on the day of heat.

When and how to watch

• Watch the herd two to three times a day, for 15 to 30 minutes each time. Early morning and late evening are the best times.
• Heats come back about every 21 days. If you miss one today, get ready for the next.
• Buffaloes often show weaker signs, so watch them more closely.

Write it down

A heat you saw but did not record is easy to forget. Record every heat and every insemination with its date. In MilkUp you can log a heat by voice, it is saved on the cow’s record, and the insemination task follows your farm’s protocol.

Follow your farm’s protocol and your vet’s advice.